Master of Science (MS) in School Counseling
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
The CACREP-accredited Master of Science in School Counseling degree program is designed to prepare learners to assume leadership positions as school counselors serving diverse populations of students in public or private elementary, middle, and high school settings. Built on national standards and models, the curriculum offers a comprehensive approach to the delivery and management of contemporary school counseling programs and emphasizes assessment; intervention; individual and group counseling; school counseling core curriculum; consultation and collaboration with teachers, parents, and the community; and advocacy for systemic change in the P-12 environment. Through coursework and clinical skills training, learners demonstrate proficiency in evidence-based counseling approaches for P-12 children and adolescents.
Personal Suitability and Fitness for the Profession
Capella embraces the principles and guidelines set forth by the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) related to professional counseling programs in that the faculty, training staff, supervisors, and administrators within the General School Counseling specialization have a professional, ethical, and potentially legal obligation to ensure, insofar as possible, that all learners have the competence to manage professional relationships in an effective and appropriate manner and that they possess the emotional maturity, interpersonal stability, and intellectual judgment required to work with vulnerable populations. Personal suitability and fitness for the profession includes but is not limited to demonstration of sufficient interpersonal and professional competence; self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation; openness to processes of supervision; and resolution of issues or problems that interfere with professional development or functioning in a satisfactory manner. Throughout the graduate training of each learner, faculty and staff are responsible for educating and assessing learners with regard to their personal suitability and fitness for the profession.
Residency Requirement(s)
Two four-and-a-half-day residencies. See university policy 3.04.05 Attendance at Residencies, the Residencies page on Campus, and the Residency section, below, for more information. Also see each graduate school’s residency courses.
Practicum/Internship Experience Requirement(s)
Minimum of 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours. See the Practicum/Internship Experience section, below, for more information.
Additional Program Requirements
| COUN5004 | Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors | 4 |
| COUN5007 | Research Methods for the Counseling Professions | 4 |
| COUN5106 | Assessment, Tests, and Measures | 4 |
| COUN5217 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Professional Counseling | 4 |
| COUN5241 | Group Counseling and Psychotherapy | 4 |
| COUN5279 | Life Planning and Career Development | 4 |
| COUN5280 | Introduction to School Counseling | 4 |
| COUN5284 | School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation | 4 |
| COUN5336 | Counseling and Advocacy with Diverse Populations | 4 |
| COUN5338 | Crisis Intervention, Trauma Response, and Emergency Management | 4 |
| COUN5420 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | 4 |
| COUN5422 | Counseling for College and Career Readiness | 4 |
| COUN5812 | Theories of Counseling with Children and Adolescents | 4 |
All academic courses listed below include specific residency, practice, or counseling skills experiences. Learners must complete prerequisites to be eligible to complete each course in the sequence.
| COUN-R5861 | The Counseling Relationship: Concepts and Skills | 4 |
| COUN-R5863 | The Advanced Counseling Relationship: Concepts, Skills, and Approaches | 4 |
| COUN6102 | School Counseling Practicum | 4 |
| COUN6131 | School Counseling Internship 1 | 4 |
| COUN6132 | School Counseling Internship 2 | 4 |
Total
At least 72 quarter credits
One or more courses in this program may require a prerequisite(s). Refer to the course descriptions for details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
Capella University cannot guarantee eligibility for licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work. State licensing boards review each applicant's completed education, exam scores, supervised experience, criminal history, and application materials at the time of license application to determine eligibility. For more information, see the professional licensure disclosures for this program on Capella’s website. Contact your school district for a determination on qualifications for salary advancement.
Arkansas and Kentucky residents are not eligible to enroll in this degree program.
Residency
The residency requirement for the Master of Science in School Counseling degree program is satisfied by the completion of two residency tracks, each consisting of an online courseroom and a four-and-a-half-day residency (COUN-R5861 and COUN-R5863). Learners must have completed the residency requirement prior to starting their practicum (COUN6102). Each residency experience for the Master of Science in School Counseling degree program requires learners to receive a minimum of 40 total hours of training and practice in the areas of counseling skills, intervention, assessment, diversity, culture, and ethics.
Practicum/Internship Experience
Learners enrolled in the Master of School Counseling degree program complete supervised on-site counseling experiences as a requirement of their program. The practicum and internship experiences consist of the following online courses and supervised site-based learning:
The practicum (COUN6102) is an online course that requires completion of 100 hours of supervised counseling experience performed at an approved site. Learners apply the skills developed throughout the course of their program while working in a school, clinic, agency, or other setting that provides counseling services.
The internships (COUN6131 and COUN6132) are two online courses that require 600 total hours of experience completed under supervision at an approved site. Learners may register for a third or fourth internship course (COUN6333 and COUN6334) should they need additional time or need to meet additional requirements for state licensure. The internships include a more intensive experience at the approved site where learners continue to demonstrate the counseling competencies and proficiencies required in their program.
Learners should consult the Counselor Education MS School Counseling Learner Handbook for a full description of the practicum/internship experience and all site-based learning requirements.